CFS Adviser Update: November 2023

Hi, I'm Bryce Quirk and welcome to my latest update where I'll share what's new and what you can expect to see from us.

First off, it's been a busy week. Based off your feedback and requests for better integration with planning software, I'm pleased to share that opening an account with CFS will now be pain-free. We've just completed seamless integration between FirstChoice and Xplan.

It means the time you or your staff need to spend setting up an account can be reduced by up to 80%. And by using direct data from Xplan, you'll find there'll be less errors, you'll be able to set up multiple accounts for a client in one journey and it reduces your staff training time and costs. We've also simplified compliance so admin follow ups will be a rarity.

Advisers who have tested the solution are loving it. Since the launch of CFC Edge only a few months ago, the market response has been phenomenal. But the work doesn't stop there. You've told us that you want more investment options for your clients, so we continue to strengthen our offer. We recently completed the successful launch of international listed securities and foreign currencies, with access to 15 stock exchanges and 10 currencies available.

This means you can provide your clients with even more options for building and diversifying their portfolios. We've also added 25 new managed accounts to CFS Edge. Expanding the investment choice on the platform means the depth and breadth of options for your clients just got even greater. But it's not just for CFS Edge. You've told us that your client needs are evolving and we are responding at pace to those needs.

And I'm really pleased to share that across the FirstChoice products suite, we've introduced 21 investments because more choice means more opportunity and flexibility. At CFS, we have an ambitious roadmap for managed accounts and part of this is hearing that you want more cost-effective options - and we're preparing to launch the Accelerate Series, which will harness the heritage and scale of CFS asset management.

And this initiative aims to deliver highly rated and frequently used investment options at a significant discount, with a 0% tiered admin fee for those managed accounts on CFS Edge. Watch out for more details in this space. Still on topic with CFS Edge, growth on the platform has increased after being selected by major financial advice network, Viridian Advisory. This further demonstrates CFS Edge as a platform of choice for high quality and client focused advice businesses.

And we'll have more exciting announcements coming soon. The next evolution of our transformation strategy will see the simplification of our product offering with the move of FirstWrap and white labels over to Edge. By focusing our efforts on one market leading platform, we'll be able to offer you even greater value, service and investment choice. Delivering a seamless transition experience for you and your clients is what we aspire to and we'll ensure you have the time, resources and functionality you need prior to the move.

I'm excited to provide you with more details and information in the new year. Thanks for tuning in.